farrowing (redirected from batch farrowing)

farrowing

the act of parturition in the sow; giving birth to a litter of piglets at term, average the 115th day after conception.

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batch farrowing

a group of sows due to farrow at about the same time are moved into the farrowing facility at the same time and kept there until all are farrowed; they are then moved out; the facility is then thoroughly sanitized ready for the next batch.

farrowing crate

cage-like, open pipework unit large enough to hold a sow but too narrow to permit it to turn around. Maximizes use of space and mechanical services, minimizes labor and feed wastage, reduces crushing losses.

farrowing fever

see mastitis-metritis-agalactia.

farrowing house

a specialist accommodation unit devoted to the care of sows at farrowing.

farrowing hysteria

affected gilts restless at farrowing savage piglets without cannibalizing them. Mortality rate very high. Likely to recur at next farrowing and gilt or sow should be culled.

induced farrowing

hormonal initiation of parturition before full term, usually with a prostaglandin.

farrowing interval

interval between litters; 6 months is the minimal objective and the interval depends on age of piglets at weaning.

farrowing index

the number of times a sow (herd) farrows in a 365 day period. It, along with litter size and mortality from birth to marketing, determines the number of pigs marketed per sow per year (PMSY). Weaning at 8 weeks of age potentially allows a farrowing index of 2. Weaning at 3 weeks of age potentially allows a farrowing index of 2.5.

isolated farrowing program

sows are farrowed in isolation as a means of preventing the spread of enzootic diseases, especially atrophic rhinitis and enzootic pneumonia.

farrowing rate

the number of sows that farrow divided by the number mated.